What is the American Express Plan It feature?

American Express Plan It is a feature that allows you to pay off large purchases on your American Express credit card with a flat fee ranging from 0.61% - 1.17% for each purchase and no interest each month. The fee will vary, depending on which card you use. Plan It is currently available only on American Express consumer cards. Charge cards and small business credit cards are not eligible.

You can use Plan It for eligible purchases either online or on the Amex mobile app. Ineligible purchases include transactions subject to a foreign transaction fee, purchases under $100, cash equivalent purchases such as gift cards and lottery tickets, and any American Express credit card fees. You’ll still earn rewards points on any Plan It purchases made with an American Express rewards card.

Note that you’re still able to pay your American Express bill through your preferred payment method.

Here is how American Express Plan It works:

• Log in to your Amex Mobile app or from your online account. Eligible purchases will have a Plan It icon. You can create up to 10 active plans, each subject to a fee. And you can combine up to 10 qualifying purchases of $100 or more per plan using your online account. You can only select one qualifying purchase per plan when using the Amex Mobile app. The number and length of plan duration options and your ability to include multiple purchases in one plan will be determined by factors such as your creditworthiness, account history and purchase amount(s).
• Select the Transaction you want to plan, click the Plan It icon, then click “Create a Plan”.
• Your eligible transaction will have up to three payment plan options, which include the applicable payment period and required monthly payment. A plan fee is included in your monthly payment. The fee varies based on your card’s APR and the length of the plan. You can view your plan fee on the first two pages of your Cardmember Agreement, located under “Useful Links” on your account homepage.
• Once you confirm your plan option, your monthly plan will be added to your minimum payment due on your next bill.
• All payments towards your Plan it account balance are first applied towards your minimum payment due. Once the minimum payment is met, any additional payments will be applied to your outstanding balance. Payments may take up to 48 hours to be reflected on your account.
• You won’t be charged future fees if you pay off your balance early. If you don’t pay off the balance by the end of the payment period, you’ll be charged interest at the regular APR on the unpaid balance.
• Amount limits on purchases eligible for the Plan It feature will be based on a portion of your balance and it can vary from month to month. Your overall creditworthiness, along with your credit limit or Pay Over Time limit will also be considered.

If you have an American Express credit card with an introductory 0% APR, you wouldn’t benefit from the Plan It feature. You’re better off paying down your balance during the promotional period without incurring any interest – or additional plan fees.